Hi,

     A few years ago a most amazing thing happened on a commuter airplane flight from Portland, Maine to Boston. Henry Dempsey, the pilot heard an unusual sound from the rear of the small aircraft. The co-pilot took over the controls and Henry went back to check it out. As he approached the rear door the plane hit an air pocket and Henry fell against the door. He instantly figured out what the noise had been. The rear door was not properly latched and when he fell into the door, it flew open and Henry was sucked out of the jet. The co-pilot, seeing a red light that signaled an open door, immediately radioed the nearest airport reporting that the pilot had fallen out of the plane. The plane made an emergency landing and much to everyone's amazement, they found old Henry Dempsey, holding on to the outdoor ladder of the airplane. Somehow, someway, Henry had grabbed the ladder on his way out and managed to hang on for ten minutes as the plane flew 200 mph at an altitude of 4000 feet. After all of that Henry still managed to keep from hitting the runway which was a mere twelve inches away from his head. The article said, "it took airport personnel several minutes to pry Henry's fingers from the ladder". Do you think??? I bet it took a while to convince him to let go. I can imagine that Henry was holding on for dear life.

     As a parent I can certainly relate to this story and often I feel like old Henry. Some of the time us parents feel like we are barely hanging on with our kids. It is hard to parent. We have so many responsibilities. We have to provide the basics; food, water, housing, education, cars, iphones. (Wait, maybe cars and iphones are not the basics.) We have to teach our kids the difference between right and wrong. We have to teach our kids issues of faith. We have to protect them from the monsters underneath their beds and the monsters out in the real world and the internet. It is not easy.

     I am not sure what it was that made Henry Dempsey survive and make it out OK, but I do know what we as parents have to always do and that is love, love, love. We have to love in all that we do. We love in our providing of the basics. We love in our teaching. We love in our witness of faith to our kids. We love in our discipline and in the boundaries that we set for our kids.

     I must tell you that a lot of our kids out there are also holding on for dear life. It is hard to be a teenager today. We have to help our children and youth "hold on". Keep the faith. You can do it! Never forget that you don't have to do it alone. God will help. We will help. Hang in there!

                            See you Sunday,


                            Steve

P.S. Don't forget about this week's schedule for Sex, God, and Me. The youth will have their normal combined worship at the Refuge at 9:30. The service will be led by Suzy Reedstrom and her son Richard and the message will be on how substance abuse affects decision making. Holy Communion will also be served.

I will be with parents in the Scout Hut and we will address things that parents need to know to help our kids. I will bring to you the latest thoughts from your youth about things they want you to know and the three things that they worry about in their lives. There will be great discussion and time for questions.